Hailed for her “great sense of line and legato,” soprano Melissa McCann has appeared in opera, concert, and recital performances across the United States, Canada, Italy, and Austria. She is a winner of the Riverside Opera Company Auditions, the NATS-LA Young Artist Auditions, and the Redlands Bowl Young Artist Auditions, and was named a finalist in the Artist Presentation Society Auditions in St. Louis and the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle’s Frances Walton Competition.

Recent operatic appearances include Pertelote in the world premiere of Chanticleer with Dakota Pro Musica, Elena in A Visit to Baba Yaga with Badlands Opera Project, Fortuna in Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble, and scenes as Adina in L’elisir d’amore with the Missouri Valley Chamber Orchestra. Other highlights include Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos with Highlands Opera Studio, Xanthe in Die Liebe der Danae with Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Musetta in La Bohème with Opera San José, Polissena in Radamisto with Accademia Europa dell’Opera, and Despina in Così fan tutte with James Madison University.

On the concert stage, McCann has appeared as soprano soloist in Bach’s Kaffeekantate, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri, Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, and other sacred and orchestral works. Career highlights include her Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Recital Hall and singing the American National Anthem for President Barack Obama at the University of California, Irvine’s 50th Anniversary Commencement.

Her 2024 lecture-recital, “Interpreting Strauss: A Scholarly Recital of Orchestral Songs and Opera Scenes for Sopranos,” was presented at the University of Mary and the University of Jamestown and supported by the North Dakota Council on the Arts Special Projects FY25 Grant. McCann was also honored with the University of Mary Faculty Excellence Award.

Dr. McCann currently serves as Assistant Professor and Director of Performance at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, where she teaches voice and directs the Vocal Arts Ensemble.

  • "Melissa McCann’s Zerbinetta was particularly charming"

    —Opera Canada

  • “Pollock’s countertenor...blended astoundingly well with Melissa McCann’s rich soprano. Her Euridice was sublimely acted, and her arias articulate and moving. Only McCann and Pollock could make a lovers’ spat sound so pretty.”

    —New University

  • “McCann proved to be in top form for the night, singing beautifully, with a great sense of line and legato.”

    —New University

  • “Newly minted voice MFA Melissa McCann hit an octave I didn't know existed while singing the national anthem.”

    —Orange County Weekly